Washington, DC. . . Today the National Archives, with its partner Archives.com, launched its new website 1940census.archives.gov
in preparation for its first-ever online U.S. census release, which
will take place on April 2, 2012, at 9 a.m. (EST). The public is
encouraged to bookmark the website now in order to more quickly access
the 1940 census data when it goes live. No other website will host the
1940 census data on its April 2 release date.

The
National Archives has teamed up with the U.S. Census Bureau to
celebrate “40 Days to the ’40 Census.” Using social media channels to
post videos, images, facts, and links to workshops nationwide, the
National Archives is getting its researchers ready for the online launch
on April 2. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (using hashtag #1940Census), Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, YouTube, and subscribe to our blogs: NARAtions and Prologue: Pieces of History.

On
April 2, 2012, users will be able to search, browse, and download the
1940 census schedules, free of charge, from their own computers or from
the public computers at National Archives locations nationwide through
the new 1940 census website: 1940census.archives.gov.

A National Archives 3:13 minute video short on its YouTube channel (http://tiny.cc/1940Census) and on 1940census.archives.gov
provides a “behind-the-scenes” view of staff preparations and gives
viewers tips on how to access the data once it is launched on April 2. This
video is in the public domain and not subject to any copyright
restrictions. The National Archives encourages the free distribution of
it.

Background on the 1940 Census

While
the original intent of the census was to determine how many
representatives each state was entitled to send to the U.S. Congress, it
has become a vital tool for Federal agencies in determining allocation
of Federal funds and resources. The census is also a key research tool
for sociologists, demographers, historians, political scientists and
genealogists. Many of the questions on the 1940 census are the standard
ones: name, age, gender, and race, education, and place of birth. But
the 1940 census also asks many new questions, some reflecting concerns
of the Great Depression. The instructions ask the enumerator to entera
circled x after the name of the person furnishing the information about
the family; whether the person worked for the CCC, WPA, or NYA the week
of March 24–30, 1940; and income for the 12 months ending December 31,
1939. The 1940 census also has a supplemental schedule for two names on
each page. The supplemental schedule asks the place of birth of the
person's father and mother; the person's usual occupation, not just what
they were doing the week of March 24–30, 1940; and for all women who
are or have been married, has this woman been married more than once and
age at first marriage.

For
the release of the 1940 census online, the National Archives has
digitized the entire census, creating more than 3.8 million digital
images of census schedules, maps, and enumeration district descriptions.

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration
is an independent Federal agency that preserves and shares with the
public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the
American people. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of
ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch
the lives of millions of people. The National Archives is a public
trust upon which our democracy depends, ensuring access to essential
evidence that protects the rights of American citizens, documents the
actions of the government, and reveals the evolving national experience.

Archives.com
is a family history website, owned and operated by Inflection a data
commerce company headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Inflection was chosen by the National Archives to host the 1940 census
website. Learn more at www.archives.com/1940census.